Media server!?

Jimmy.apple.fan · Feb 25, 2013

Awaiting new iMac..... Very excited!!
Already have Apple TV & kids have iPads/iPhones!!

Once I rip DVDs onto the iMac will it be possible to then view any of those DVDs via home sharing over home wi fi network on iPad/apple TV?!?

Am told I need a NAS HArd drive which will be able to store the DVDs as well as allowing them to be streamed onto any device?!? If this is the case would a time capsule be ok or too slow according to some reports?

Help...!!!????

paulrbeers · Feb 25, 2013

Jimmy.apple.fan said:
Awaiting new iMac..... Very excited!!
Already have Apple TV & kids have iPads/iPhones!!

Once I rip DVDs onto the iMac will it be possible to then view any of those DVDs via home sharing over home wi fi network on iPad/apple TV?!?

Am told I need a NAS HArd drive which will be able to store the DVDs as well as allowing them to be streamed onto any device?!? If this is the case would a time capsule be ok or too slow according to some reports?

Help...!!!????

Only if you have them shared thru iTunes on your iMac. Homesharing (which is what you want to use) only works thru iTunes. You can't directly share them from the NAS, but you could load them into iTunes (leaving the files on the NAS) and share them all the rest of the devices.

And no, you don't need a NAS. I use direct attached storage (i.e. external hard drives) attached to my Mac Pro and store my content there. Much cheaper than a NAS.

lucasfer899 · Feb 25, 2013

paulrbeers said:
Only if you have them shared thru iTunes on your iMac. Homesharing (which is what you want to use) only works thru iTunes. You can't directly share them from the NAS, but you could load them into iTunes (leaving the files on the NAS) and share them all the rest of the devices.

And no, you don't need a NAS. I use direct attached storage (i.e. external hard drives) attached to my Mac Pro and store my content there. Much cheaper than a NAS.

I agree with this, using a desktop computer for home sharing is where it's at.
It's just that some people like to use NAS boxes because they use (just a bit) less power than a Mac Pro.

paulrbeers · Feb 25, 2013

lucasfer899 said:
I agree with this, using a desktop computer for home sharing is where it's at.
It's just that some people like to use NAS boxes because they use (just a bit) less power than a Mac Pro.

My Mac Pro does double duty running multiple VM's. Since it has to be on at all times, it makes complete sense for it to also be used as my Media Server. It might be over kill if all you do is use it as a Media Server, but since at any time it is running between 3-4 VM's it isn't overkill for me.

bohbot16 · Feb 25, 2013

Jimmy.apple.fan said:
Awaiting new iMac..... Very excited!!
Already have Apple TV & kids have iPads/iPhones!!

Once I rip DVDs onto the iMac will it be possible to then view any of those DVDs via home sharing over home wi fi network on iPad/apple TV?!?

Am told I need a NAS HArd drive which will be able to store the DVDs as well as allowing them to be streamed onto any device?!? If this is the case would a time capsule be ok or too slow according to some reports?

Help...!!!????

Depending on how big your hard drive is in your new iMac and how many DVDs you'll be ripping, you may not even need an extra drive.

nebo1ss · Feb 25, 2013

paulrbeers said:
Only if you have them shared thru iTunes on your iMac. Homesharing (which is what you want to use) only works thru iTunes. You can't directly share them from the NAS, but you could load them into iTunes (leaving the files on the NAS) and share them all the rest of the devices.

And no, you don't need a NAS. I use direct attached storage (i.e. external hard drives) attached to my Mac Pro and store my content there. Much cheaper than a NAS.

You can indeed share your Media Library from the NAS without an apple Computer or Itunes. Synology makes a bunch of IOS applications which enable this. For example DS Video allows any IOS device to play video Content directly from the NAS. DS Audio allows any IOS device to play Music directly from he NAS.

talmy · Feb 25, 2013

I use a Mac mini as my home media server (among many other tasks).

It's a 3 year old server version with Snow Leopard Server, but that's entirely unnecessary for a media server. 9TB capacity at the moment, with the drive "toaster" for backups. 70 watt power consumption, most from the disk drives.

jmpage2 · Feb 25, 2013

Well, for power comparisons I have a 5 bay DS1511+ as well as a DX510 expansion. 10 drives, mix of 3TB WD Red and 2TB Seagate Green drives. Typical power consumption for the whole 12TB (useable!) monstrosity is about 35 watts.

Jimmy.apple.fan · Feb 25, 2013

Thanks!!

So to clarify the only benefit, as such, of using a NAS external HD is you can access & share media directly from the drive without having to go through the main computer/iTunes?!?

So logically, the only real time advantage is you can close down the computer & keep sharing whereas with just the computer it must always be turned on I assume! Want it to be as easy as possible for my children to be able to access from their IOS devices without having to seek help from myself (or you guys.....!!!!!

) and without having to go into my study & turn the computer on etc!

Want it to be fluid like & always available to them ie at bedtimes etc ?

Thanks

bohbot16 · Feb 25, 2013

Only certain NAS setups will let you avoid iTunes.

A simple setup is to have everything organized in iTunes and then set your iMac to "Wake for network access" in System Preferences -> Energy Saver. This will let your iMac go into low power sleep mode, then wake up when someone tries to stream something and automatically go back into sleep mode when they're done.

Jimmy.apple.fan · Feb 25, 2013

bohbot16 said:
Only certain NAS setups will let you avoid iTunes.

A simple setup is to have everything organized in iTunes and then set your iMac to "Wake for network access" in System Preferences -> Energy Saver. This will let your iMac go into low power sleep mode, then wake up when someone tries to stream something and automatically go back into sleep mode when they're done.

Sounds like a cracking idea thanks!!

lucasfer899 · Feb 25, 2013

bohbot16 said:
Only certain NAS setups will let you avoid iTunes.

A simple setup is to have everything organized in iTunes and then set your iMac to "Wake for network access" in System Preferences -> Energy Saver. This will let your iMac go into low power sleep mode, then wake up when someone tries to stream something and automatically go back into sleep mode when they're done.

This is certainly the best idea.
iMacs make really good 24/7 machines, as they are so quiet, and when the display is off, barely any power gets used.

paulrbeers · Feb 25, 2013

nebo1ss said:
You can indeed share your Media Library from the NAS without an apple Computer or Itunes. Synology makes a bunch of IOS applications which enable this. For example DS Video allows any IOS device to play video Content directly from the NAS. DS Audio allows any IOS device to play Music directly from he NAS.

Did you see he mentioned an AppleTV? Unless I missed something, you can't add an App to an AppleTV....

blevins321 · Feb 25, 2013

paulrbeers said:
Did you see he mentioned an AppleTV? Unless I missed something, you can't add an App to an AppleTV....

You can, though, have the app on an iPad/iPhone and Airplay to the AppleTV. Before my latest Plex reincarnation, this is how I was playing my media.

Search

Search

Media server!?

Jimmy.apple.fan

macrumors member

paulrbeers

macrumors 68040

lucasfer899

macrumors 6502

paulrbeers

macrumors 68040

bohbot16

macrumors 6502a

nebo1ss

macrumors 68030

talmy

macrumors 601

jmpage2

macrumors 68040

Jimmy.apple.fan

macrumors member

bohbot16

macrumors 6502a

Jimmy.apple.fan

macrumors member

lucasfer899

macrumors 6502

paulrbeers

macrumors 68040

blevins321

macrumors 68030

Our Staff